Candidates see large amount of donations
Published 9:07 pm Monday, August 18, 2014
With nearly three months remaining until the general election, local candidates have reported more than $85,000 in campaign donations.
The six candidates are vying for three offices – Pike County Sheriff, Pike County Revenue Commissioner and state representative – on the Nov. 4 general election ballot. They are required by law to file a monthly financial report any time they receive $1,000 or more in donations during a calendar month or if a candidate spends more than $1,000.
Ed Packard, the director of elections for the Alabama Secretary of State’s office, said it was important for candidates to file their expense reports because it was important for the public to understand who was backing each office.
“Just because they don’t have activity, doesn’t exempt them from filing,” Packard said. “Once they meet the threshold, they have to report. If they don’t file it, we don’t know if they have any activity. It looks they may not have filed.”
A candidate only has to reach the $1,000 threshold one time. Once the threshold is met, a candidate must file reports every month. The reports are public record and detail any in-kind or cash donation of more than $100, as well as any campaign expenditures.
Pike County Revenue Commissioner
In the race for Pike County Revenue Commissioner, incumbent Democrat Curtis Blair has received at total of $1,901 of itemized and non-itemized donations and spent $7,007.76 to date, with $5,682.86 for advertising. Blair also has received $6,325 in personal loans to date.
In January, Blair loaned himself $1,325 and spent the $1,325 on his qualifying fee to the Pike County Democratic Executive Committee.
Blair did not spend or receive money for the months of February and March.
In April, Blair received a $500 contribution from Conquistador Inc. in Florida; $50 from Bob Booth in Dothan; $150 from Nancy Potts in Nashville; and $200 from Brandon Coots. Blair also received $301 from non-itemized cash contributions. Blair had no expenditures.
In May, Blair received $500 from Mack, Linda and Donna Scott. Blair spent $274.68 at The Printing Press in Troy for advertising.
Blair received $200 from John McKeller, Troy, during June. Blair did not spend any money that month.
Blair loaned himself $5,000 in July and spent $530.82 on advertising with Boosters Inc., $3,142.03 on advertising with Southern Business Systems Inc. and $1,509.91 on advertising with Southern Business Systems Inc..
Terrell Jerome ‘Bo’ Weed, Republican candidate for Revenue Commissioner, has received $1,875 in donations to date and has spent $1,617.28 with $367.88 going toward advertising. Weed also has received $1,500 in personal loans to date.
Weed did not have a campaign financial report for the month of January.
Weed received a personal loan of $1,500 in February and paid $1,219 in qualifying fees to the Pike County Republican Party.
For March, Weed received $20 from Elaine McLeod, $100 from Donald Lee, $150 from Virginia Hamm, $500 from the Pike County Republican Party, $50 from Bert Fridlin, $50 from Wally Lacey, $100 from George Gilmore, Sr., $100 from Debra Davis and $100 from Doug Singuefield. Weed spent $30 on office supplies.
Weed did not receive or spend any money in April.
For May, Weed received $50 from Bryan and Susan Newland, $100 from Bruel Davis, $75 from Nell Haigh and a $40 anonymous donation. Blair spent $183.94 on advertising with Ideal Graphics.
In June, Weed received a donation of $50 from Bryan and Susan Newland, a $100 donation from B. Davis, a $75 donation from Nell Haigh and a $40 anonymous donation. Weed spent $183.94 at Ideal Graphics for advertising.
In July, Weed received a $100 donation from Tommy Youngblood and a $75 donation from Nell Haigh. Weed did not spend any money.
Pike County Sheriff
• Pike County Sheriff Russell Thomas, the Democratic incumbent, has received a total of $33,009.50 in itemized, non-itemized and in-kind contributions to date. Thomas has spent $11,375.04 to date, with $9,673.96 in advertising. Thomas has received $1,100 in personal loans.
In January, Thomas received a personal loan of $1,100 and paid $1,100 to the Pike County Democratic Executive Committee for his qualifying fee.
In February, Thomas received $1,000 from Jessica Kelley and $10 had no expenditures.
In March, Thomas received an in-kind contribution of $49.50 from The Printing Press for advertising. Thomas also received a $300 donation from Max Hughes, a $1,000 donation from Robert and Carol Ritchie, a $1,000 donation from Conquistador Inc., a $1,000 donation from Gene Renfroe, a $250 donation from Mack and Mary Gibson, a $120 donation from Renis Jones and $1,120 from various contributors in Pike County. Thomas spent $656.18 on advertising with The Printing Press and $147 at the U.S. Postal Service.
In April, Thomas received a donation of $300 from Tom Shirley, $150 from J.E. Sawyer, Jr., $300 from Brandon Coots, $250 from Bernice Raley, $200 from Joe and Peggy Faulk, $500 from John McKeller and $1,325 from multiple contributors. Thomas spent $98 with the U.S. Post Office and $173.86 with The Printing Press.
In May, Thomas received a $200 donation from Robert and Joan Price, a $250 donation from June C. Ava, a $200 donation from Billy King, a $1,000 from Mack and Linda Scott, a $200 donation from Daryl and L. Botts, a $125 donation from Joe Boyd, a $1,000 donation from G.M. and Cindy Dabbe and a $325 in donations from various contributors. Thomas had no expenditures.
In June, Thomas received a $500 donation from L.B. Peavehouse, a $500 donation from Sherrill Crowe, a $250 donation from Banks Buy Rite and $320 in donations from various contributors in Pike County. For the month of June, Thomas spent $75 at Pike County High School, $599 at Daley Professional Web Solutions, $65 at Pike Liberal Arts School, $1,460 at The Printing Press and $272.53 at Lowe’s.
For July, Thomas received a $1,000 donation from Grady Reeves, a $500 donation from Rhett Butler, a $1,000 donation from D. Colquett Trucking, a $1,000 donation from Kenneth Campbell, a $2,000 donation from K.W. Container, a $2,000 donation from K.W. Plastics Recycling Division, a $2,000 donation from K.W. Plastics, a $2,000 donation from Wiley Sanders Truck Lines, a $2,000 donation from Sanders Lead Co., a $1,000 donation from N.J. Cevera, a $1,000 donation from Cevera, Ralph, Reeves, Baker, Hastings, a $100 donation from John Quattlebaum, a $100 donation from Murray Langford, a $200 donation from Linda Felton, a $1,000 donation from Jane Shelley, a $500 donation form Mitchell Harris, a $100 donation from Amy Flowers, a $200 donation from Cliff Little, a $200 donation from Ravon Graham, a $500 donation from Jeffery Warren, a $300 donation from The Corner Store, a $200 donation from Bill Hopper and a $200 donation from Danny and Gladys Paul. Thomas received one in-kind contribution of $75 from Tim Brady for advertising. Thomas spent $1,592.97 at Boosters Inc. for advertising, $755 at Southern Business Systems for advertising, $50 for advertising with Distinguished Young Women, $407.79 at Lowe’s, $967.68 with SO Business Systems for advertising, $2,598.35 with SO Business Systems for advertising, $169.65 with Pike Equipment Rental and $186.43 with Sunny South for gas.
• Jason Youngblood, the Republican candidate for sheriff, has received a total of $3,985 in itemized, non-itemized and in-kind contributions. Youngblood has spent $3,127.94 with all of his expenses going toward advertising. Youngblood has received $1,350 in personal loans to date.
Youngblood did not have financial reports for January, February, March, April or May.
For the month of June, Youngblood received a $200 donation from Donald Lee, a $300 donation from Herby Davis, a $150 donation from Virginia Hamm, a $200 donation from Donna Horn and $1,340 in non-itemized cash donations. Youngblood received a $500 in-kind contribution from The Pig Café for food and a $500 in-kind contribution from The Emporium for rent. Youngblood received one personal loan for $650. In the month of June, Youngblood spent $1,672.06 with Ideal Graphics for advertising.
In July, Youngblood received a $300 donation from Burton Green, a $150 donation from William Davis and $345 in non-itemized cash donations. Youngblood also received a personal loan of $700. Youngblood spent $1,155.88 with Ideal Graphics and $300 with Goshen High School Sports Booster in advertising.
State Representative
• Joel Lee Williams, Democratic candidate for state House of Representatives District 89, has raised $4,790 in donations and spent $1,116.52 with no money going toward advertisement.
In January, Williams did not spend or receive any money.
In February, Williams loaned himself $1,116.52, which he used to pay his qualifying fee to the Alabama Democratic Party.
In March, Williams received a $200 donation form Deborah Estep, a $300 donation from Dorothy King and a $35 donation from Cindy Howard. Williams did not spend any money.
In April, Williams received a donation of $25 from Elizabeth Grubbs, a $100 donation from Willie Thomas and a $250 donation from Charles R. Whitson. Williams had no expenditures.
In May, Williams received a $250 donation from Alabama Utility Services, a $500 donation from William H Freeman, a $500 donation from Jim Bradsher, a $250 donation from Burton R Green, a $350 donation from Brandon Coots, a $500 donation from Vicki F McPherson, a $500 donation from Don Marcum, a $500 donation from Jerry F Shirley III, a $150 donation from Laura A Wyrosdick and a $200 donation form Ryan Charles. Williams did not spend any money.
In June, Williams received a $200 donation from Scherryl J. Harrison, a $100 donation from James Wilhoit, a $100 donation from Catie Strickland and a $500 donation from Dan Dawson. Williams did not spend any money.
Williams did not receive or spend any money for the month of July.
• State Rep. Alan Boothe, the incumbent Republican, filed his first report in Spetember 2013 with $22,993.55 already received. Boothe has received $39,000 in donations to date and spent $13,372.76 including itemized and non-itemized expenditures with $2,522.63 going toward donations.
In September 2013, Boothe received a $1,000 donation from Alabama Power Company Employees PAC. Boothe spent $600 with Visa Troy Bank & Trust for administrative purposes, donated $125 to Troy United Women’s League, spent $780.06 in administrative fees with Visa Troy Bank & Trust, $118.50 in administrative fees with Linda Brantley, $1000 in administrative fees with Visa Troy Bank & Trust, $200 in administrative fees with Legislative Wives Club, donated $200 to Oak Mountain Youth Baseball, $650 in administrative fees to Visa Troy Bank & Trust, spent $140 with Sodexo for food, $125 with Momma Goldberg’s for food, $2,500 on transportation with Toyota of Dothan, $120 in administrative fees to House Republican Caucus, $1040.37 in administrative fees with Visa Troy Bank & Trust and $120 with Ariton Athletic Club for advertising.
In October 2013, Boothe received one $500 donation from Pharma and spent $126.60 in administrative fees with World Media for Dothan Eagle.
In November 2013, Boothe received $1,000 from Alabama Lenders PAC and reported no expenditures.
In December 2013, Boothe received a $500 donation from Alabama Acre, a $1,000 donation from ABA II PAC, a $500 donation from Horn Beverage Inc. and a $2,000 donation from Truk Pak. Boothe donated $120 to Pike County Farm City Organization and spent $419.36 in administrative fees to Visa Troy Bank & Trust.
In January, Boothe received a $2,000 donation from Automobile Dealers Association of AL Inc PAC, a $1,000 donation from Troy PAC, a $1,000 donation from Alabama Realtors PAC, a $1,000 donation from Captial Resources, a $1,000 donation from Farmpac, a $2,000 donation from Faxpac, a $2,000 donation from FGApac, a $500 donation from MPAC and a $1,500 donation from Trust Representing Involved Alabama Lawyers (trial). Boothe donated $110 to Goshen Quarterback Club, spent $1,296.52 in administrative fees and $553.13 to Visa Troy Bank & Trust in administrative fees.
In February, Boothe received a $500 donation from Rural Water PAC. Boothe spent $175 with Sodexo for food, donated $200 to Troy United Women’s League and spent $250 in administrative fees to Roxie Kitchens.
In March, Boothe did not report any donations or expenditures.
In April, Boothe received $1,000 from State Farm Agents and Associates of Alabama PAC, a $250 donation form Alabama Deer Association, a $3,500 donation from Luther S Pate IV, a $2,500 donation from James Rawls and a $1,000 donation from Progress PAC. Boothe spent $628.82 in administrative fees with Troy Bank & Trust.
In May, Boothe received a $500 donation from Pharma, a $150 donation from Robert E Price, SR. and a $100 donation from Arvis L Steed. Boothe spent $250 in administrative fees to Roxie Kitchens and donated $200 to Pike County Law Enforcement.
In June, Boothe received a $2,500 donation from Cervera, Ralph & Reeves LLC, a $2,500 donation from KW Plastics, a $1,000 donation from Opelika Finance INC, a $2,500 donation from Sanders Lead Co. and a $2,500 donation from Wiley Sanders Truck Lines. Boothe paid $900 in administrative fees to Troy Bank & Trust.
In July, Boothe received a $500 donation from CPA Pac and a $500 donation from Six Pac Inc. Boothe donated $200 to Troy Parks and Recreation and spent $2,533.63 in advertising with Aureus International.
Financial records are public access and can be reviewed in the probate office in the county courthouse, or financial records can be accessed on the Secretary of State’s office website.